Tourniquet.



H. W. PLUMMER,

TOURNIQUET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1918.

1,299,860. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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a?? WHWW HENRY W. PLUMMER, OF AUGUSTA, MAINE.

TOURNIQUET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed. March 13, 1918. Serial No. 222,142.

dated October 15, 1918, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which includes a limb embracing compression band together with a compression member capable of adjustment against an artery so that the discharge of blood through said artery is obstructed or retarded and wherein means are employed for effectively holding the limb embracing compression band in applied position about a limb.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character including a compression member capable of endwise thrust in one direction and which is moved endwise in the opposite direction upon axial rotation thereof whereby said second endwise movement is gradual and under control together with novel and improved means for permitting these particular operations. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a body provided with a compression member together with a limb embracing compression band provided with means engageable with the limb with which the device is applied for maintaining the compression member in proper engagement with the limb.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character including a body provided with a compression member together with a limb embracing compression band anchored at one end with the body and having its opposite end portion adjustably engaged with the body and wherein novel and improved means are employed for effectively locking the compression band in its different adjustments relative to the bodyand wherein said means may be readily controlled by a persons hand engaged with the body.

- Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a body provided with a movable compression member and a limb embracing compression member coacting with said body and wherein the body is provided with means adapted to be engaged by the digits of a hand to facilitate the movement of the compression member into desired contact with a limb.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved tourniquet whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

'The' novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a tourniquet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the intermediate portion of the web being broken away;

Fig.2 is a view in top plan of'my improved device as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. e is a sectional view taken substan tially on the line H of Fig. 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings B denotes a block preferably rectangular in form and which has disposed therethrough at the longitudinal center thereof an opening 1 the Wall of which is free and unobstructed. The longitudinal margins of one of the faces of the block B are defined 6 are provided with the extensions or fingers a 7 for a purpose to be hereinafter more par.

ticularly referred to. v I

Disposed through the opening 1 is the desired to torce the head or knob 9 into contact withthe flesh. Freely mounted within the bore a of the block B at opposite sides of the opening 1 are the members or dogs 11.

T he'inner ends of said members or dogs 11,

- are provided with the bevels 12- whereby said members or dogs 11 may readily interlock or mesh with the beveled threads of the compression member C and in a manner to permit direct cndwise movement of the member. t. in one direction but holding the memberagainst endwise movement in the opposite direction except when said compression.

member C is axially rotated. The outer end of each of the members or dogs 11 and the inner end of each of the plugs 6 are provided with the sockets l4 and seated within each pair of opposed sockets 1% are the. extremities of an eXpansible member 15 herein disclosed as a coil spring and which expan- .sible member serves to constantly urge the member or dog 11 in a direction toward the compression member C yet permitting the desired outward movement of said member or dog 11 when the compression member U is given its direct endwise thrust for engagement with a limb.

The end portion of the compression member C remote'from the knob or head 9 is provided with the operating member 16 hereindisclosed as a circular head having its periphery serrated or knurled; for obvious reasons.

. In practice the compression member is adapted to be forced into proper engagement with the flesh of a limb by pressure imposeduponthe outer face of the operating member or head 16 and this operation is materially facilitated by the. extensions of fingers 7 which are adapted to be engaged -1 orgrasped by certain of the fingers of a hand. By this means a quick and unobstructed endwise movement may be given to the member C to cause the same to impose the proper pressure upon an artery when the device is applied to a limb and the members I or dogs 11 coact with the threads 10 to hold the compression member C normally against retrograde movement. The outward or retrogrademovement of the member C, asaf- 1 torded by theaXial rotation thereof, assures a gradual release of the pressure upon an artery so that nthe eventan operation is not entirely successful the pressure upon the artery can be quickly restored without undue injurious effect upon the patient.

denotes an elongated plate arranged longitudinally on a slight curvature and which has one end portion returned to af- "tord a barrel 17 through which is directed the bar 18 of one of the flanges 2 and as afforded by a slot By this arrangement the plate P has swinging movement about an. axis substantially at, right angles to the compres sion member C. The plate P is also of such alength as to have its outer end portion engage a limb to which my improved tourniquet or hemostatic bandage may be applied. Suitably secured to the outer end portion of the plate P is afiexible limb embracing compression band or web l/V which has its opposite end portion adjustably engaged with a second plate P. The outer end portion of the plate P is returned to afford a hook member 19 insertible through a second slot 3' in a direction outwardly of the member C and which interlocks with the bar 20 afforded by a second slot 3. The band W is preferably formed of a textile material and said band TV in connection with the plates P and P afford a limb embracing compression band which is properly applied about a limb before the compression member C is forced into engagement with the flesh. The plate P is also of such a length as to contact with the linrb to which the device is applied. The plates P and P serve as balancing members and operate effectively to prevent it from tipping over when the same is being forced against the flesh. It is to be noted that the plates P, P are free to move inwardly toward the compression member C and particularly when pull is imposed upon the compression band or web TV. It is also preferred' that the plates P and P be formed of steel.

In practice the plates P P rip the flesh at each side of the artery to be controlled and hold the flesh firmly so that in pushing down on the compression member C the flesh at each side of the artery affords a firm wall. This results in the plates giving such stability to the flesh to permit the band W to be placed loosely around the limb so that the collateral circulation is not impaired but the tourniquet is held in applied position with the head or knob 9 over the artery which it is desired to controL, The plates P and P also obviate the necessity of crowding the head or knob 9 down to the artery hard enough to injure the same as theplates hold the flesh at opposite sides of the artery firm and thereby do not allow the artery to be pushed toone side away from the head or knob 9. This reduction in the amount of pressure necessary to effect a successful application of the tourniquet is of particular advantage forthe-reason that the muscle in which the artery is seated and the layer of bone generally back or underneath the ar tery are not injured.

\Velded or otherwise securedv to the outerv face of the plate P in close proximity to the hook member 19 is a cross strip or plate 21 extending transversely of the plate. The outer marginal portion of the plate 21 is offset relative to the plate P and said offset portion has the slot 22 through which the free end portion of the band W is threaded. The end portion of the plate P remote from the hook member 19, is offset outwardly on a predetermined incline and such offset portion is also provided with a slot 23 through which the band W is directed. The side marginal portions of the plate P are provided with the outstanding and diametrically opposed wings or ears 2A which serve as supports for the pin 25 extending trans-- versely of the plate P. Pivotally engaged with the pin 25 are the arms 26 carried by the opposite ends of the locking bar 27. The bar 27 is provided with the teeth 28 which are adapted to penetrate or impinge upon a portion of the band disposed therebeneath and as will hereinafter be more fully explained. The bar 27 is constantly urged toward the plate P through the medium of the expansible member 29 herein disclosed as a coiled spring and which member is interposed between the free end portion of the rearwardly directed arm 30 carried by the upper marginal portion of the bar 27 and the plate 21.

The free end portion of the band is first threaded through the slot 23 and extended between the plate P and the bar 27, threaded through the slot 22 and then again threaded through the slot 23. The band W is then returned and passed beneath the bar 27. By imposing a pull upon the returned portion a of the band TV the band may be readily drawn throughthe slots 23 and 22 and the teeth 28 of the bar 27 when in engagement with the returned portion a of the band lV effectively hold the same at proper tension about a limb.

In order to insure the proper engagement of the teeth 28 of the bar 27 with the portion (a of the band when the device is in applied position and particularly during its application I have slidably engaged with the plate 21 and movable in a direction transversely of the plate P the bar or strip 31 having one end portion provided with an outstanding lateral extension 32 which underlies the free end portion of the arm 30 when at the limit of its movement in one direction and thereby serves to hold the arm 30 against depression. It is also to be .noted that the arm 30 and the extension 32 are in such close proximity to the block B when the device is in applied position to permit the requisite operations thereof by the digits of the hand engaged with the block B.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a tourniquet constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tourniquet consisting of a block, a limb embracing compression band coacting with the block, a compression member disposed through the block and having endwise movement, holding means coacting with the compression member and members carried by the block and serving as finger grasps.

2. A tourniquet consisting of a block, a limb embracing compression band coacting with the block, a compression member disposed through the block and having endwise movement, holding means coacting with the compression member and oppositely directed members carried by the block and serving as finger grasps.

3. A tourniquet consisting of a block provided with intersecting openings, a compression member disposed through one of the openings and provided with beveled threads, dogs slidably arranged within the second opening at opposite sides of the compression member and interlocking with the threads of the compression member, yieldable means constantly urging the dogs toward the compression member, and a limb embracing compression band coacting with the block.

fl. A tourniquet consisting of a block prevlded with intersecting openings, a compression member disposed through one of the openings and provided with beveled threads, dogs slidably arranged within the second opening at opposite sides of the compression member and interlocking with the threads of the compression member, plugs closing the opposite ends of the second opening, expansible members interposed between the plugs and dogs for constantly urging the dogs toward the compression member, and a limb embracing compression band coacting with the block.

5. A tourniquet consisting of a block provided with intersecting openings, a compression member disposed through one of the openings and provided with beveled threads, dogs slidably arranged within the second. opening at opposite sides of the compression member and interlocking with the threads of the compression member, plugs closing the opposite ends of the second opening, ex-

pansible members interposed between the plugs; and dogs for constantly urging the dogs toward the compression 'member, outwardly directed extensions carried by the blocks to afford finger grasps, and a limb embracing compressionband coacting with the block.

1 6'. A tourniquet consisting of a block providedwith intersecting openings, a compression member disposed through one of the openings and provided with beveled threads, dogs slidably arranged within the second opening at opposite sides of the compression member, andinterlocking with the threads of the compression member, plugs closing the opposite ends of the second opening, expansiblfemembers interposed between the plugs and dogs for constantly urging the dogs toward the compression member, the end portions of the dogs engaging the compression member being beveled whereby said compression member is capable of direct endwise; movement in one direction and is movable in the opposite direction upon axial rotation of the compression member.

. 7 A tourniquet consisting of a block provided. with an opening therethrough and with a bore in communication with the opening and angular thereto, an endwise movable compression member directed through the opening of the block, a member slidably mounted within the bore and engageable with the compression member for retarding the movement of said compression member in one direction, a yieldable means for maintaining said member in engagement with the compression member, and a limb embracing compression band engageable with the block.

8. A tourniquet consisting of a block pro vided with an opening and with a borein communication with the opening and angular thereto, a compression member disposed through the opening and provided with beveled'threads, a member slidably ar ranged within the bore and interlocking with the threads of the compression member, and yieldable means arranged within the bore for constantly urging the last named member toward the compression member, and a limb embracing compression band engageable with the block.

9. A tourniquet consists of a block, a compression member disposed through the block and having endwise movement, plates engageable with the block and extending in opposite directions, each of said plates being capable of swinging movement about an axis substantially at right angles to the com- Copies of this patent may be obtained for tourniquet is applied, and a limb embracing band connected to the outer end portion. of the plates.

10. A tourniquet consisting of a block, a compression member disposed through the block and having endwise movement, plates cngageable with the block and extending in opposite directions, each of said plates being capable of swin ing movement about an axis substantially at right angles to the compression member, said plates being of a length to permit the outer end portions thereofto engage the limb to which the tourniquet is applied, said plates being free to swing inwardly toward the compression member and toward the limb to which the tourniquet is applied, and a limb embracing band connected to the outer end portion of one of the plates and slidably engaged with the second plate whereby pull upon the limb embracing band serves to swing the plates inwardly toward the compression member and toward the'limb to which the tourniquet is applied.

11. A tourniquet consisting of a block, a compression member disposed through the block and having endwise movement, plates engageable with the block and extending in opposite directions, each of said plates being capable of swinging movement about an axis :a' i'antially at right angles to the compression member, said plates being of a length to permit the outer end portions thereof to engage the limb to which the tourniquet is applied, said plates being free to swing inwardly toward the compression member and toward the limb to which the tourniquet is applied, and a limb embracing band c011- nected to the outer end portion of one of the plates and slidably engaged with the second plate whereby pull upon the limb embracing band serves to swing the plates inwardly toward the compression member and toward the limb to which. the tourniquet is applied, one of said plates being detachably engaged with the block.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W. PLUMMER.

Witnesses Josnrrr M. OADARETTE, HUGH P. PATTERSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. i 

